Agree. The next theory will be how aliens showed up in the fog, stopped time to get Kobe’s autograph and crashed the aircraft to avoid detection.

I guess the preliminary NTSB report must have been done by complete idiots since they didn’t include aliens.

I wonder why the most likely answer is the hardest for people to accept.

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The NTSB report specifically did not include a cause for the crash. With regards to the engines, what it said was that there was no "catastrophic" internal damage.

I still do not believe that the pilot was disoriented. He could have been panicked. He could have come up with a really bad "Plan B". But to deliberately do a 180, and try and get under the ceiling instead of getting above it, without notifying the tower of his change in plans is odd to say the least.

and they never do in their preliminary (less than 30 days) report. They will specifically state actual or probable causes in the final report, likely late 2020 or early 2021.

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Right.

Regarding the engines:

The engines were found lying inverted near the empennage in the burned area. The accessory gearboxes and parts of the inlet cases of both engines were thermally destroyed. Viewable sections of the engines showed no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure. The No. 2 engine first-stage compressor blades exhibited tip curl in the direction opposite of rotation, consistent with powered rotation at the time of impact. The engines were recovered for detailed disassembly examination.

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No they did not. They made no mention of the No 1 engine, and you are only making presumptions based on your stated bias that there was a possible mechanical failure. Do not draw conclusions regarding no mention of No 1.

No they did not. They made no mention of the No 1 engine, and you are only making presumptions based on your stated bias that there was a possible mechanical failure. Do not draw conclusions regarding no mention of No 1.

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You are creating a straw man. I have no bias, I made no presumption, I draw no conclusion. I merely put forth a theory based on the facts.

However, the NTSB report did not state that "both engines were turning at impact".

The NTSB report specifically did not include a cause for the crash. With regards to the engines, what it said was that there was no "catastrophic" internal damage.

I still do not believe that the pilot was disoriented. He could have been panicked. He could have come up with a really bad "Plan B". But to deliberately do a 180, and try and get under the ceiling instead of getting above it, without notifying the tower of his change in plans is odd to say the least.

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You are creating a straw man. I have no bias, I made no presumption, I draw no conclusion. I merely put forth a theory based on the facts.

However, the NTSB report did not state that "both engines were turning at impact".

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No, but they did say that evidence was that the main and tai rotors were both powered at impact. Most likely, they couldn't find enough pieces of the other engine to verify whether it was running or not. However, there is NO reason to believe that it wasn't running.

No, but they did say that evidence was that the main and tai rotors were both powered at impact. Most likely, they couldn't find enough pieces of the other engine to verify whether it was running or not. However, there is NO reason to believe that it wasn't running.

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I'm sure one engine is enough to power the rotors. The reason to believe the other engine might not have been running is the sudden loss of altitude. The report said that they did find both engines and that there was "no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure". I posted a link in #156, at least take the time to read it.

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I'm sure one engine is enough to power the rotors. The reason to believe the other engine might not have been running is the sudden loss of altitude. The report said that they did find both engines and that there was "no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure". I posted a link in #156, at least take the time to read it.

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I think, given that you express such strong opinions, you should tell us your aviation credentials. I'm an ATP and CFI, with a commercial rotorcraft-helicopter rating (although admittedly not a lot of helicopter time). You?

I think, given that you express such strong opinions, you should tell us your aviation credentials. I'm an ATP and CFI, with a commercial rotorcraft-helicopter rating (although admittedly not a lot of helicopter time). You?

Consultant

I think, given that you express such strong opinions, you should tell us your aviation credentials. I'm an ATP and CFI, with a commercial rotorcraft-helicopter rating (although admittedly not a lot of helicopter time). You?

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The NTSB report specifically did not include a cause for the crash. With regards to the engines, what it said was that there was no "catastrophic" internal damage.

I still do not believe that the pilot was disoriented. He could have been panicked. He could have come up with a really bad "Plan B". But to deliberately do a 180, and try and get under the ceiling instead of getting above it, without notifying the tower of his change in plans is odd to say the least.

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Every pilot that I have spoken to, and there are three Navy helo pilots that I have spoken to separately, have all said the same thing to me. They said vertigo, disorientation, and that the pilot was looking for a hole in the fog to put her down and ran into the mountain.

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Every pilot that I have spoken to, and there are three Navy helo pilots that I have spoken to separately, have all said the same thing to me. They said vertigo, disorientation, and that the pilot was looking for a hole in the fog to put her down and ran into the mountain.

Every pilot that I have spoken to, and there are three Navy helo pilots that I have spoken to separately, have all said the same thing to me. They said vertigo, disorientation, and that the pilot was looking for a hole in the fog to put her down and ran into the mountain.

Mike Sagely, a helicopter pilot in the Los Angeles area with 35 years of flying experience, said the aircraft's last moments suggest Zobayan had started to execute a maneuver designed to pop above the clouds by flying up and forward.

“When he went into the clouds, he had a full on emergency," Sagely said.

When pilots try to turn instead of sticking with the pop-up maneuver, “probably in the neighborhood of 80 to 90% of the time, it’s catastrophic,” he said.

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So you think the NTSB should just close the case now ? No need for further investigation ? That seems to be your position.

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I believe the English language speaks for itself: At this point....there is little reason to suspect the aircraft.

The NTSB has a job to do which is to look at all aspects of the accident. That means the pilot, aircraft and flying conditions. Additionally, they formulate recommendations that relate to the accident if it was deemed preventable. That may mean mandatory refits of technology such as black box recording devices, better terrain warning systems and updated guidance to the air traffic controllers involved in this accident.

Human beings love to blame others or things for their mistakes. If it wasn't the aircraft then blame ATC for not telling him "you are flying too low". You can blame his company for not installing better flight management systems and the list goes on. In the end there is only one guy that made the decisions that doomed that aircraft and all the souls onboard.

But if you would like to continue to second guess the obvious....feel free to do so.